‘Attempts to discredit Parliament behind slap’

A day after he was attacked in New Delhi by an angry protester, Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar said the various attempts to malign and discredit institutions such as the Parliament could be one of the reasons behind the incident.

A day after he was attacked in New Delhi by an angry protester, Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar said the various attempts to malign and discredit institutions such as the Parliament could be one of the reasons behind the incident.

Pawar, who was in the city to attend a function to commemorate the 27th death anniversary of his political mentor and Maharashtra’s first chief minister YB Chavan, said, “I don’t hold any political party responsible for this incident. There have been attempts to disrespect institutions such as the Parliament and this could be a possible reason for the attack.”

Pawar also attributed economic concerns with overseas markets seeing a slump and increase in oil prices as chief contributors affecting common citizens and indirectly leading to their anger.

At the same time, he admitted there was need for political parties to introspect over what was happening, in terms of their performance and behaviour in Parliament.

“In the current Winter Session, we have had only two serious discussions so far. We need to introspect about what impression we are creating in people’s minds,” he said.